Page 38 of Christmas Chaos
Being six foot six, they only reached his knees. It looked like he was wearing lederhosen. Neither of them said a word. He put the top on. It was big enough around the middle, but the sleeves ended just below his elbows. It was another Christmas clusterfuck.
The ring of Rory’s phone filled the silence.
‘It’s Brad.’ He took the call.
‘Dude!’ Brad was so loud it sounded like he was in the room with them. ‘Where are you, man?’
‘We’re in the castle.’
‘Where?’
‘Um, in the small study off the entrance hall. Why?’
The door flew open and Brad bounded in. ‘Surprise!’
Zoe gripped Rory’s hand as they stared at him in silence. Barbara entered after Brad and looked Rory up and down.
‘Oh dear. That really won’t do. Think of the children. You’ll terrify them.’
Rory managed to recover first. ‘Mum,’ he croaked. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Isn’t it obvious? We’re putting family first. You made it clear how much the two of you were struggling, and Zoe needs to rest.’
‘But what about Fight Dragon Club?’ Zoe asked. ‘Isn’t that meant to be filming now?’
Brad clicked his fingers. ‘Rescheduled. I didn’t want to miss the birth of my grandson.’
‘I’m not due till mid-January,’ Zoe said, feeling light-headed.
‘Jesus says it’s his time.’
‘Jesús, Bradley. How many times do we have to have this conversation?’
‘Sorry, Countess.’
Barbara raised her eyes theatrically, then clicked her fingers at Rory. ‘Give Bradley the costume. We can take it from here.’
Zoe stoodbehind Brad in the castle library, next to the huge open fire, a clipboard in her hands, and watched him distil Christmas into the spirit of pure commercialism.
It hadn’t started well.
She’d put a chair out for the children to sit on, but the first boy, who was clearly a fan, stood to attention in front of Brad.
‘I want an Xbox,’ he said loudly.
His mother stood behind her son, shaking her head at Brad.
‘A bike,’ she stage-whispered. ‘He wants a bike.’
‘Ho, ho, ho,’ overacted Brad. ‘I think what youreallywant is abike.’
The little boy shook his head so hard Zoe was worried it might fly off.
‘No! I want an Xbox.’ There was a pause. ‘Please?’
Brad slapped his thigh. ‘Well, with manners like that, how can I refuse! One Xbox coming your way!’
The boy fist-pumped. ‘Yessssss!’
